Vientiane: On the top floor of the four-story Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) building, located about 10 kilometers from Vientiane's city center, a group of trainees focused on their computer screens as they learned to use new digital technology for the upcoming census.
According to Lao News Agency, the training session at the LSB is part of a series of activities aimed at preparing Lao PDR for its 5th Population and Housing Census, scheduled for October 2025. The census will provide high-quality data crucial for shaping the country's future development. To inspire the urgency of census preparation, the Government of Lao PDR hosted an event on February 28 at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane to officially launch the 5th Population and Housing Census Process.
Mr Phonesaly Souksavanth, Head of Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), mentioned that with guidance from the Government of Lao PDR and technical support from UNFPA and development partners, LSB began preparations for the 5th Population and Housing Census in 2021. She noted that the census is one of the strategic projects the Government of Lao PDR conducts every 10 years in accordance with the Lao PDR Statistic Law.
Mrs Thirakha Chanthalanouvong, Director General of Social Statistics Department, highlighted that the 2025 census will be the first digital census, transitioning from paper-based to a fully digital process. This development aims to enhance accuracy and reliability while modernizing the Lao statistical system.
A significant shift in the Lao PDR census is the adoption of digital technology and the use of handheld devices alongside Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for data collection. Mr. Kambiz Kabiri, Policy and Census Coordinator at UNFPA, explained that UNFPA, in collaboration with development partners, has provided technical, financial, and programmatic support to the LSB, including training sessions to modernize its census operations.
Mr. Vilaysook Sisoulath expressed gratitude for UNFPA's support, noting that the LSB now has the capacity to delineate EA maps using digital technology, develop census questionnaires using CAPI applications, and train 13,000 enumerators to effectively collect data from nearly 1.4 million households nationwide.
Mr Soulysak Phommasack, Deputy Director General of Social Statistic Department, emphasized the importance of public awareness and engagement for the census's success, with UNFPA supporting the development of a communication strategy.
UNFPA has been providing technical support and capacity building to the Lao Statistics Bureau since 2021 in preparation for the census. Dr. Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative, highlighted the agency's contribution to the design, preparation, and execution of the census, aiding in modernizing the statistical system.
Phonesaly Souksavanth acknowledged the contribution of UNFPA and development partners, emphasizing that the 2025 census is not just about data collection but about shaping the future of Laos.